Bengaluru: Activists in Kerala hugged and kissed each other in multiple protests on Thursday against alleged moral policing by Shiv Sena members in the city of Kochi.

The street plays, accompanied by songs to express their opposition to moral policing, were staged a day after Shiva Sena members chased away young unmarried men and women sitting together in Marine Drive, a tourist spot in Kochi.

Video footage aired by TV news channels showed the activists shouting and caning the youngsters for disrespecting Indian culture as the police looked on Thursday’s protests were reminiscent of the 2014 Kiss of Love campaign in Kerala, which too was triggered by concerns about moral policing.

Police have arrested six activists of the Shiv Sena. The government also suspended a police officer with the rank of a sub-inspector for failing to stop the Shiv Sena activists on Wednesday, news agency Press Trust of India reported. Eight other police personnel, who were on duty when the incident occurred, were transferred to the armed reserve police camp, the report said.